Soccer

Gareth Southgate determined to remain in post for Euro 2024 reunion with Italy

Northern Irish boss Ian Baraclough pleased to avoid big guns

German national soccer team's managing director Oliver Bierhoff and England's manager Gareth Southgate. Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/EPA
German national soccer team's managing director Oliver Bierhoff and England's manager Gareth Southgate. Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/EPA
Sun Oct 09 2022 - 18:16

England manager Gareth Southgate is determined to still be in post for his side’s Euro 2024 reunion with Italy, but knows it all hinges on how his team perform in the World Cup in Qatar this winter.

England have been drawn against their Euro 2020 final conquerors in qualification Group C for the next continental finals in Germany in two years’ time, along with Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.

Southgate is contracted until the end of the next Euro finals but accepts he will be judged first on how his team get on at the World Cup, which starts next month.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “As we speak now, I’m contracted to this time in 2024, but I am also well aware that in football you have to get results.

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“So the plan is there and the desire for continuity is there too, but I also don’t take for granted that you underperform and expect to stay in that office.”

The team have struggled for form at times during the Nations League campaign, which included a defeat to Italy in Milan last month and a goalless draw against them in Wolverhampton in June.

He told Sky Sports after the Euro 2024 draw: “We know the quality and depth that Italy have. England’s record against Italy is generally not very good — and we’ve got to improve that.”

While facing England at Wembley will bring back good memories for Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini, they will not be relishing a return to face North Macedonia, who eliminated the European champions in a World Cup play-off semi-final earlier this year to deny them a place in Qatar.

Wales appear to have a good chance of securing qualification for a third-consecutive major tournament after they were drawn in Group D alongside 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia.

Dragons boss Rob Page said: “I think we’re pretty pleased with the group. We’ve avoided some teams like Belgium, who we’ve played quite a bit in recent years.

“If you try to forecast what teams you’d prefer compared to others, we’re not far from it. Overall, pretty pleased.”

Northern Ireland were in pot five and have been placed in Group H, one of the three six-team groups, alongside Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino.

Their boss Ian Baraclough said: “I’m pleased that we’re in a pot of six. We wanted to be in a situation where in every game there’s something to play for rather than friendlies.

“Looking at the Finns and the Danes from pot one and two, it could have been a lot worse than that — I look at England and Italy, France and the Netherlands. Not being drawn in any of the first three groups was important as the draw was starting to evolve.

“I’m thinking people will look at that group and think there could be one or two surprises from it.”

Scotland, who will be pushing to qualify for a second-successive Euros, will face three-time champions Spain, Erling Haaland’s Norway plus Georgia and Cyprus in Group A.

All qualifiers for Euro 2024 will be played between March and November next year, with the group winners and runners-up qualifying. A further three places will be determined in play-offs to be played in March 2024.